Strange Fruit-Billie Holiday

Strange Fruit

Southern trees bear

a strange fruit Blood on the leaves,

blood at the root Black bodies swinging

in the southern breeze Strange fruit hanging

from the poplar tree. Pastoral scene

of the gallant South The bulging eyes,

and the twisted mouth Scent of magnolia,

cool and fresh And the smell

of the burning flesh. Here is the fruit

for the crows to pluck For the rain to gather,

for the wind to suck For the sun to rot,

for a tree to drop Here is a strange

and bitter crop. So strange So strange